White Sox To Sign Cuban Defector With Record $68 Million Contract

The White Sox have agreed to a 6-year, $68 million contract with Cuban defector Jose Abreu (via ESPN.com). The deal is a record for a first-year player in Major League Baseball.

The White Sox huge investment in the slugging first baseman could be a reaction to the success of other recent Cuban defectors, Yasiel Puig and Yoenis Cespedes. Puig signed a 7-year, $42 million contract with the Dodgers that was criticized by many. Cespedes signed a 4-year deal with the A's worth $38 million.

While Abreu is considered by some the better hitter, the White Sox are taking a big gamble on the soon-to-be 27-year-old. Cespedes was 26 during his rookie year and Puig was just 22.

While the $68 million is a record for a player, it is not the most invested by a team in an international free agent. In 2012, the Rangers gave Yu Darvish a 6-year, $56 million contract which came after a $51.7 million posting fee the Rangers paid to Nippon Ham Fighters for the exclusive negotiating rights.